Nash was a rising star in Dune’s political scene. In his early thirties, he’d already secured the position of Director of Taxation, and many saw him as the future governor of the city. Skye knew that someone like him, with so much potential ahead, wouldn’t risk his neck over something like Wolfe—not unless there was a much bigger picture involved.

  But here he was… This told Skye that Wolfe had connections far deeper than he had originally thought. The stakes were higher, and the web was more tangled than he had imagined.

  Skye couldn’t help but mentally curse himself. I really stepped into a mess this time.

  He forced a smile and walked over to shake hands with Nash. The man was the picture of youthful strength and confidence, his eyes sharp with an easy charisma. He greeted Skye with a smile that appeared both friendly and calculating.

  "Captain Skye, I hear you’ve got a great entrepreneur in our city in cuffs? What’s going on? Why the big show?"

  Skye threw a casual grin. "Oh, it’s just about the infected folks from a few days ago. You know how these things go—when it comes to infections, nothing’s ever simple. I’ve just invited Mr. Wolfe in for a little chat. If all goes well, I’ll personally see him off."

  Watching the two of them banter like old friends, Freya and the other members of Skye’s team stood stiffly nearby, looking straight ahead. They were more frontline officers, not accustomed to this kind of polished, smiling diplomacy. They understood the job, but they didn’t do it with the same smooth charm.

  Nash nodded, acknowledging Skye's words but shifting the conversation to more serious ground. "Infections are serious, no doubt about that. You front-liners really have a tough job." He paused, then asked, his tone cooling slightly, "But tell me, Captain—have you got conclusive evidence?"

  Skye’s smile tightened, but he kept his cool. "I can’t say it’s conclusive yet, but Wolfe certainly has some explaining to do."

  The change in Nash’s demeanor was subtle but noticeable. His smile faded, replaced with a sharper, more calculating gaze. "Skye, you know Wolfe isn’t just another businessman in this city. He’s part of the fabric here—his family’s been entrenched for years. If you’re linking him to these infections without solid evidence, it could wreck his reputation, harm his business, and tarnish the city’s image."

  He let that hang in the air for a moment. "If you find something concrete, I won’t stand in your way. But if you don’t… this whole method of yours could be seen as, let’s say, a bit rough."

  The edge in Nash’s words was sharp, though his tone remained cool. In terms of rank, Nash was far above Skye. And while the law enforcement bureau technically wasn’t under his direct jurisdiction, it didn’t mean Nash didn’t wield significant influence. Every officer looking to stay in Dune long-term knew what that kind of pressure felt like.

  Skye’s grin didn’t waver. He kept his tone light but firm. "Oh, there’s definitely evidence, Director. But you know, until the case is wrapped up, I’m not in a position to share details."

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  Nash’s eyes flashed with a flicker of annoyance, but he kept his composure. This guy’s persistent, he thought. But how confident can he really be without hard proof?

  "You’re crossing the line here, Skye," Nash said, his voice low but threatening. "You can’t just treat one of this city’s prominent entrepreneurs like this. Not without concrete proof."

  Nash stepped forward, his men in black suits closing ranks behind him, standing firm in front of Skye.

  Skye, however, didn’t even flinch. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag, enjoying the smoke as it curled around him. The scene grew heavy with tension, the silence almost palpable.

  For a moment, it seemed like Nash had the upper hand—like Skye was about to back down. But then Skye’s smile spread even wider, and his eyes flickered with a dangerous gleam.

  He leaned back slightly, showing a flash of his yellow teeth and cigarette-stained grin.

  "Director Nash," he said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade, "when it comes to infected people, you don’t get to decide what happens. That’s not up to you."

  No matter how well Nash had cultivated his tone, his face turned dark with fury when Skye mocked him in front of all his subordinates. Just as he was about to snap back, Skye stubbed out his cigarette and his expression suddenly grew icy cold.

  “Or do you want to go inside and talk about it, Director Nash?” Skye’s voice was low, coming from deep in his chest, his eyes locking onto Nash with a chilling, unspoken threat. The pressure of his Force surged around him, and the hairs on the backs of Nash’s men stood on end.

  “You—!” Nash flinched, his legs trembling slightly. By the time he regained his composure, Skye and his team had already entered the building, their footsteps echoing.

  From a distance, Nash could only hear Skye’s voice, his words hanging heavily in the air. "I found a list with Wolfe's men, and the names match the infected we’ve been dealing with. Everyone else on that list has either disappeared or turned up dead at their doorstep. That’s enough reason to hold him for 48 hours."

  Nash froze, the cold weight of those words sinking in. Wolfe… was this bastard really unreliable? Nash felt a chill run down his spine, his stomach twisting with unease. He understood now—Skye hadn’t revealed everything right away to test his response. And some of Nash’s own actions had likely made him a target in Skye's eyes.

  His face darkened even more. He pulled out his phone and started dialing, urgency lacing his movements.

  Meanwhile, Skye walked calmly into the hall, his pace steady. Freya, trailing behind him, couldn’t hide her concern. She whispered quietly, “Skye, did you push him too hard?" She know he was stubborn. Otherwise, with his track record, he should’ve at least been made Director of the Law Enforcement Bureau by now, not stuck on the front lines.

  Skye grinned, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Right now, they should be scrambling. I was hoping to catch a bigger fish, but it looks like this one will have to do for now.” With a smirk, he pushed open the door to the interrogation room and entered, his men following behind him. He threw a bright smile toward Wolfe, his voice light but with an underlying edge. “Mr. Wolfe, sorry for the delay. Let’s get down to business.”

  The moment Wolfe heard Skye’s voice, his carefree demeanor evaporated. He slowly lifted his gaze, locking eyes with the man who seemed entirely unfazed by the situation. It took him a few moments to process what was happening. He hadn’t expected this— Even the outside forces couldn’t stop him.

  Wolfe sneered, his tone dripping with warning. “You’re playing a dangerous game here, Captain Skye. Do you really think you can handle this? You’re way out of your depth.”

  Skye’s grin didn’t fade. He removed his coat, his eyes sizing Wolfe up like a predator examining its prey. “Cut the bullshit,” Skye said, his voice cold, all trace of politeness gone.